During excavations undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, ahead of the rebuilding of the Townwall Street filling Station, Dover, a complex series of stratified archaeological deposits were revealed representing activity at the site between the early Medieval period and later post medieval periods. Period 3 (c. 1550-1780) represents an increase in activity across the site, a series of buildings was constructed along Clarence Street (B47-51 and B53) with a cellared structure further to the south-east (B46). Building 48 consisted of surface built stone walls and fronted the south-east side of Clarence Street, at the north corner of the Medieval plot F.

Two phases of development of this building were recorded, phase a consisted of a series of surface built stone walls which defined an almost rectangular structure, measuring internally 5.85m-6.5m (NE-SW) by about 4.1m (NW-SE). It is a probable successor to building 45 which is of period 2. the primary floor is of an orange-brown clay, with traces of surface burning, overlain by a thin occupation layer. A brick and stone base of a rectangular fireplace measuring 2.33m by 1m and was located against the middle of the north-east wall. The remains of two successive circular brick-built ovens were apparent in the north corner.

The second phase consisted of the replacement of the south-east wall and the reorganisation of the interior. A dump of soil and clay partially sealed the oven and fireplace, provided a base for the new floor which was of crushed cream-yellow mortar. Successive thin clay deposits above this may represent subsequent floors. A smaller sub-rectangular stone fireplace 0.8m (NW-SE) by 0.7m (NE-SW) was built over the earlier one. No firm datable material was recovered from the first phase of development of this building but a date of c. 1675-1725 may be attributed to the second phase and a date of c. 1750-1775 for the abandonment of the structure may be inferred. (1)

<1> Keith Parfitt, Barry Corke and John Cotter, 2006, Townwall Street, Dover: Excavations 1996 (Monograph). SKE31840.